Dimtar Berbatov’s Manchester United nightmare looks to be coming to an end after Fiorentina co-owner Andrea Della Valle admitted the club were close to signing a new striker whose surname begins with ‘B’.

Berbatov’s future at Old Trafford has been the subject of much speculation ever since he was dumped from United’s squad for their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in May 2011.

Despite finishing the 2010-11 season as the Premier League’s joint-top scorer with 21 goals, Berbatov made just five starts for United last season having fallen behind Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez in the pecking order.

Claims of broken promises soon followed with Berbatov taking the unusual posting on his Facebook page his dissatisfaction and conceding it would be better if he left the club.

The arrival of Robin van Persie earlier this month further diminished Berbatov’s standing at the club resulting in him being left out of United’s squad for their 3-2 win over Fulham on Saturday.

A move to Fiorentina, 2-1 winners over Udinese in their Serie A opener last night, has long been mooted and Della Valle has done little to quell the speculation.

“This week we will complete the rose,” said the Viola supremo. “There will be an important engagement. Does the name start with the letter B? Yes, it may do.”

Meanwhile, Della Valle insists Manchester City-target Stevan Jovetic will “definitely” stay at the Artemio Franchi this summer.

City have been linked with a £25million bid for the 22-year-old after missing out on the signature of van Persie, but Della Valle has reiterated the club’s desire to keep the Montenegro international.

“Jovetic will definitely stay here,” he told La Gazzetto dello Sport. “I told him that in nine months we sit down and see what to do with his future.

“I think the reception that the city has given him has convinced him to stay, but even if he did, he knows that this year is going to Florence.”

 

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